The Wheel Workers
Houston, Texas, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2001 | SELF
Music
Press
Sonically “Day After Day” is shape shifting beauty, like something Porcupine Tree might have cooked up after sharing one to many beers with Frank Black and the Pixies. Much like those prog-punk compadres, Higginbotham — with the help of his fellow Wheel Workers, guitarist Craig Wilkins, keyboardist and singer Erin Rodgers, bassist Zeek Garcia, and drummer Kevin Radomski — will more often than not pull the proverbial rug out from under the listener, though always at the service of the song. Toward the final climax of “Day After Day,” you can feel Higginbotham’s anger at his own sense of resignation rise as he howls, “I’ve trained my heart to let go / day after day . . .” over pounding caveman-like groove that finally hits a wall of squelching synths. - Houston CityBook
Texas-based underground indie music collective, The Wheel Workers, premiere their latest single, “Suck It Up,” an intense punk rock track with buzzsaw guitars, screaming synthesizers, and just a touch of surf rock that echoes with influences such as the Pixies, the Stooges, and the Dead Kennedys. The song is full of ferocious joyful chaos, catchy melodies and a badass hook that will stick to your brain for days. - Big Takeover
White Lies/All My Fault,” the new split single from Houston-based band The Wheel Workers—premiering exclusively at The A.V. Club—may be a pair of songs aimed straight at Donald Trump and the 2016 election, but musically and lyrically, it extends far beyond the political heat of the moment. - A.V. Club
“This Houston-based synth-pop outfit brings a Wes Anderson-inspired aesthetic to the video for a song about plain old heartbreak but also the heartbreak of having your house broken into.” - Texas Monthly
"...it's a true masterpiece." - Free Press Houston
"Painfully catchy" - Magnet Magazine
“Houston's brightest hope. Damn. Seriously righteous.” - Blurt
The Wheel Workers’s versatility is evident through their lyrical variety and unique blend of musical styles, and once you listen to their music, you’ll be hooked. - Green Label
“Sociopolitical consciousness with a memorable hook.” - The Big Takeover
They are simultaneously brilliant and down-to-earth, sincerely progressive and catchy as hell, that rare band that can incorporate thoughtful politics into music while keeping things fun and engaging...The Wheel Workers are freaking awesome, and [with Citizens] they’ve gone a very different direction from the path they marched down last time. And it’s good. Oh, is it good. - Space City Rock
On their third full-length album, Citizens .... is Higginbotham's best and most fully realized set of songs to date. - Houston Press
The Wheel Workers' "Past to Present" was one of the best albums made in Houston last year, the kind of dense and thoughtful recording that offers new rewards during repeated playings. - Houston Chronicle
There are plenty of good “protest message” albums out there but its rare when the music is as impressive as the message...a sound that invites comparisons to “OK Computer”era Radiohead and Midnight Oil. - PowerPopholic
Much like a certain kind of young person is said to have “an old soul,” so does the music of The Wheel Workers, a Houston-based band that has only been making music together since late 2010, but who sounds seasoned beyond their years. That’s not to say that the songs on Unite don’t sound fresh, but rather that the arrangements, vocals, and instrumentation feel worn-in and played just as they should. No false steps here. Take for example the opening track, “The MOP,” which begins with simple acoustic guitar strumming and builds to a swinging jazzy number complete with muted trumpets and handclaps. It’s the perfect introduction to an album that blends a variety of instruments, including a more prevalent use of keyboards in later songs, all to great effect. Or listen to the lush “Soft,” which highlights the complementary background vocals that permeate each track. Other songs on the record offer the vibe of a band that doesn’t have to try too hard to be good. Simple, beautiful melodies are more than enough here, and The Wheel Workers don’t need to reinvent anything to succeed in crafting an outstanding debut. - Performer Magazine
“They’ve managed to craft a dozen tracks that are thoughtful, warm, friendly, melodic, and addictive as all hell (it’s seriously impossible to not sing along to “Chemicals,” for one)….” - Space City Rock
“...I feel like this is the kind of music that could break through to people and get them to start asking questions, to start thinking about the choices they make in their lives.” - Free Press Houston
catchy indie rock with a progressive message - Powerpopaholic
Steven Higginbotham is a mixture of insane genius and prolific songwriter...poignant lyrics, the hook heavy structure, and the fully fleshed out tracks are all elements that made this album top notch from start to finish. - Free Press Houston
Discography
Debut - 2003
How to Fly a Washing Machine - 2004
Unite - 2011
Past to Present - 2013
Citizens - 2015
Post-Truth - 2018
Harbor - 2022
Photos
Bio
The Wheel Workers can be described as less of a singular band and more of a Texas-based underground indie music collective that spans two decades and more than 15 contributing members. The original band members (first known as The Wheel Works) got their start in Austin, Texas in the early 2000s. The band, led by songwriter, singer, lyricist and frontman Steven Higginbotham, with Giuseppe Ponti on bass, Nathan Maness on drums and Chris Maness and Chad Fontenot on guitar, spent the first few years of the new millennium living together in a house on Houston St., recording music that John Aielli of KUT’s Elektikos called “truly eclectic.” Featuring violin and keyboards along with traditional rock instruments, the band moved seamlessly between catchy indie rock tunes and introspective acoustic ballads on their 2003 debut album. The band then significantly broadened its horizons on 2004’s “How to Fly a Washing Machine,” an album composed entirely of radical post-rock spontaneous improvisations recorded in the band’s in-home studio. The original iteration of the group disbanded in 2005 when Higginbotham moved to Houston, TX, but those original members have contributed regularly to later albums from the group.
After a hiatus and reconfiguring of the band between 2006 – 2010, The Wheel Workers started up again in 2007 when Higginbotham partnered with Craig Wilkins on the release of the group’s next project “Unite” (2010). Shortly thereafter, the band began a longstanding relationship with legendary Houston producer Dan Workman (Beyonce, Lyle Lovett, ZZ Top), who would mix their next three highly acclaimed albums: “Past to Present” (2013), “Citizens” (2015 – referred to as “a true masterpiece” by Free Press Houston), and “Post-Truth” (2018). The first track on Post-Truth, “White Lies,” debuted on The Onion’s A.V. Club, who described the track as “hard-charging...successful political art [that] foregrounds the artistry... [and] musically and lyrically, it extends far beyond the political heat of the moment.” Over the years, the band has been nominated for eight Houston Press Music Awards and their intense and compelling live performances propelled them to stages across the United States, from Milwaukee’s Summerfest to Houston’s Free Press Summerfest, where they had the honor of sharing the stage with artists such as Flaming Lips and Phantogram.
The Wheel Workers have stood the test of time with a career that spans over two decades and a discography that exemplifies their lyrical depth, sonic diversity and has solidified them as an underground indie rock staple of Texas music. The group is currently composed of lead singer, guitarist, keyboardist, violinist Steven Higginbotham (the longest standing member and group founder), guitarist and keyboardist Craig Wilkins, keyboardist and singer Erin Rodgers, bassist Zeek Garcia and drummer Kevin Radomski. Their latest project, “Harbor,” set to be released August 2022, was recorded over the span of a three year period (interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the fact that Higginbotham was in law school while recording) in Higginbotham’s home recording studio. It also comes after Higginbotham fractured his larynx and thought he would never sing again. Now, nearly three years after the fracture, Higginbotham feels stronger vocally, due to all the work he put in during speech therapy and tailored voice lessons. The record was produced and mixed by their long-time pal, acclaimed producer Dan Workman, who helped shape and craft the songs into their final form, creating a record that showcases the band’s eclectic underground indie rock prowess with fuzzy guitars and synthesizers.
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